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New sick-leave rules come into effect

Workers are now entitled to three days of paid sick leave a year, after legislation on the issue came into effect on 1 January.

Sick leave will be paid at 70% of gross salary, up to a cap of €110 per day.

The new entitlement follows the enactment of the Sick Leave Act 2022 last year.

Illness benefit

Where an employee has an extended period of illness, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment says that the scheme will operate seamlessly with the existing illness-benefit system, which kicks in on day four of an absence.

Once the employee has exhausted their entitlement to employer-paid sick leave, they will move onto illness benefit, if eligible.

Employers will eventually cover the cost of ten sick days a year from 2026, after which illness benefit from the State continues to kick in.

Minimum wage rises

In addition, the National Minimum Wage increased from €10.50 to €11.30 an hour on 1 January.

This means that someone on the minimum wage working who works a 39-hour week will receive a pay increase of €31.20 a week.

Minister Simon Coveney said that the increase was an important step in the progression to a living wage, which the Government has agreed to introduce by January 2026.